大学英语_The Libido for the Ugly.ppt

Unit 7 The Libido for the Ugly --H.L.Mencken Aims To know the author, Henry L. Mencken To understand the text To learn the writing technique To appreciate the language features Teaching Contents I. Henry Louis Mencken II. Writing type III. Detailed study of the text IV. Organizational pattern V. Language features I. Henry Louis Mencken His life His views His works His style H.L.Mencken -- his life 1880- 1956 American educator, author, critic born in the city of Baltimore, Maryland the son of German immigrant parents. graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute at 16 H.L.Mencken -- his life became a reporter then a drama critic and editor central figure in American intellectual life during the 1920s invented the wordbooboisie, combining the two words bourgeoisie and booby (an awkward, foolish person). H.L.Mencken -- his views hated narrow-minded religion. believed strongly in intellectual freedom hated commercialism. not supported democracy because he considered the masses too ignorant and greedy to exercise it wisely. H.L.Mencken – his works Menckens essays were received with delight or horror, depending on the readers point of view, he was also highly respected for his literary criticism and he exerted a powerful influence on American literature. H.L.Mencken – his works 1.The American Language 1918 2. Prejudices (6 vols) 1919--1927 3. Happy days 4. Newspaper Days 1940--1943 autobiography 5. Heathen Days 6.25 Books and thousands of articles The American Language He was a leading scholar in the field of language. His monumental book The American Language is considered an outstanding work of philology. The American Language a) It examined the development of the English language in America, b) It contrasted English and American expressions and usage. The American Language c) It explained the origin of many American idioms, d) It traced the influence of immigrant languages on American English. The American Language He made